A neighbour cannot enter your property without your permission to cut back tree branches. Entering your land to carry out work on a tree—even if the branches overhang your side—constitutes a trespass.

 

Key Legal Rules

 

No Access: Your neighbour must stay on their own land and cannot step foot into your garden or lean over your boundary to do the pruning without your explicit consent.

 

Your Rights: If their branches cross into your airspace, you have the common law right to cut them back, but you can only trim them up to the property boundary line and must do so from your own side of the property.

 

Ownership of Cuttings: The cut branches still belong to the tree owner, so you should offer the cuttings back to your neighbour, but you cannot simply throw them back into their garden as that can be treated as fly-tipping.

 

If a neighbour crosses a boundary fence and cuts back a tree No, it is generally not legal for your neighbour to damage your tree, and reaching or leaning across your property boundary to cut or harm it can be considered a form of trespass or property damage.

 

Legal Rules on Boundaries and Trees

Boundary limits: While a neighbour has the legal right to trim branches or roots that cross the property line into their garden (known as the right of abatement), they must stop strictly at the vertical boundary line.

 

No trespassing: Your neighbour cannot physically lean over, step onto, or reach across your property to cut or damage your tree. Doing so violates your property rights.

 

Excessive cutting: If your neighbour cuts your tree so heavily that it dies, becomes unstable, or damages a tree that is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or located in a conservation area, they can face serious legal action, civil liability, or criminal fines.

 

 

 Trespass

Yes, if a neighbour reaches or leans over your property boundary and damages a tree that belongs to you, it can potentially be considered criminal damage or a civil property matter depending on the severity and intent

 

Under UK law, while a person has a common law right to cut encroaching branches or roots back to the property line, they have no right to reach or lean across the boundary to damage the main body of the tree or cut it down entirely.

 

Legal Context and Distinctions

Criminal Damage: If a neighbour intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages your property—including a tree wholly on your land—it can be treated as a criminal offense. As noted by Citizens Advice, “If your neighbour cuts back a tree too far without your permission, or cuts it down, this could be criminal damage.”

 

Which means that the neighbours committed willful and planned trespass as well as paying for and planning and committing criminal damage and having done so dumped all the branches into my garden -fly tipping.

 

If the neighbor is a Bristol City Council tenant and their behavior amounts to severe environmental anti-social behavior (such as accumulation of rubbish or deliberate criminal damage), you can report it to the council's Estate Management Service.

 

Councils have a range of powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as vandalism and intimidation, and nuisances, such as noise or pollution.

 

Anti-social behaviour is officially defined as conduct that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm, or distress to people who do not live in the same household. It covers a wide range of unacceptable and disruptive actions that negatively affect a community or individual's quality of life.

Council Harassment Continues

 Despite sending the photographs of the garden I today had another email from the Council and in this instance the person in question took a photo out of context. This was not even via the usual council email format I usually get:

"Dear Mr Hooper,

I am getting in touch regarding the recent appointment that you told me you would be unavailable for.

Thank you for the pictures you sent in. One of these pictures (the last one attached) in particular indicates to me that the garden is overgrown in some areas.

As I have expressed in previous correspondence, I am wanting to offer some help for you in maintaining the garden and removing some of the overgrown branches.

I would like to come and visit you on Friday 15th March at 2pm.

If you need to rearrange this appointment please let me know and we can rearrange it.

Yours Sincerely,

Eleanor Howard

Housing Officer"

My response:

"The last picture was to show the look before I started the work late last year. The garden is NOT out of control and is certainly not overgrown and I cannot understand whether this is something personal or not since this is bordering on harassment now. If and when I get to a stage that I need help in the garden I will be in contact."

Apparently EVERY Garden in Bristol Will Be Inspected (that was sarcasm)

 Apparently I have a case reference number!

This was received today (22 02 2024):

Case ref 227381 

"Dear Mr Hooper,

"Many thanks for getting back in touch and informing me of the need to rearrange the appointment.

"Can we please rearrange the appointment for Wednesday 28th February at approximately 11:30am?

"Thank you for the emails you have sent me and accompanying pictures. I would still like to come and take a look at the garden more thoroughly.

"I am sorry you did not receive my previous letters. In these letters, I detailed offer of help that the council could provide for you to maintain your garden and help with cutting things back, as I am aware due to health needs this can be challenging. Therefore on my visit I would like to review the garden and see if there are any parts which we could offer to help cut back in order to assist you.

"I hope you will be able to attend this next visit.

Yours Sincerely,

Eleanor Howard

Housing Officer"

So my response was simple:

"As I have sent you photographic evidence that there are no brambles over any part of my front fence I cannot see the point. There are no brambles there -clearly shown in the photos so why would you want to call around to discuss brambles all over my front fence?

"Time wasting and harassment. "

Is 29 Years Too Long For Harassment To Be Allowed To Continue? Update 17 02 2024

 Interestingly I had a letter from Eleanor Howard of Bristol City Council to state that she had written letters (this was the first I had received so the others I assume are imaginary since BCC seems to lose any documentation that makes them look like bad landlords). She will be calling on 23rd February to AGAIN inspect my garden after more complaints. This is regarding the front fence and bramble that does not go over any fence -last time I was told that there had been a complaint of nettles in this persons garden. My advice was that she should cut them.

We have had one storm after another, torrential rain and -2 temperatures over the winter (and another visit from Covid) but the garden is in current winter die back so I am sending photographs of the garden -I will be honest and state that three bramble branches are high (about 6ft) but are bending back into MY garden and none are going into the neighbor's.

Myself and visitors have noted that the occupant of the house in front is behaving "unusually" and having spoken to locals I found out that she had a bad reputation when she lived a couple streets away.  

This constant "We received a complaint" since the day I actually moved into my previous property in 1995 is ridiculous and in 29 years not one single letter or evidence has been produced to back this up. In fact, the Council claims that it cannot find any of the correspondence or emails between myself and BCC before 2020.  

Not even the warning that I was breaching tenancy agreements by not clearing my access driveway of heavy furniture...I do not have a driveway and photographs of the pathway to the house proved no heavy furniture existed.

Not even the warning of eviction I was handed for non-payment of rent which, as soon as I contacted my MP, it was suddenly found that all the paperwork "was in a folder".  Or the third time I was told I was being evicted despite being my sister's carer -again for non rent payment which, at the very last minute when a legal notice was being drawn up to get access to those records.... "the documents were found in a folder"

Well, Ms Howard may well visit me on 23rd February but she will be getting absolutely no cooperation from me -a broken sink and guttering that pours rain water onto the ceiling (despite now 9 surveyor inspections) since 2019 is still unrepaired.

Oh, and those previous complaints about my garden that were followed by inspections? Letters from the person inspecting the garden stated that there was no problem.

oh, I shall be filming the inspection.

On 17 02 2024 I wrote to Ms Howerd to tell her I would not be home on the 23rd and sent three photos taken in the presence of two witnesses that shows the fence in question has no bramble growing over it -in fact I forgot that I had actually cut it back from the fence area late last year.  The problem lies with the neighbor about whom I will write no more.

Anything after this IS pure council harrassment

Current Situation and Council 'loss' of documentation

 Well after lockdown things went quiet but a couple weeks ago I had a call from someone calling herself "Ellie" at Bristol City Council. She told me that she was in the area and wanted to carry out a "property inspection". I'd had one in 2022 but cleared everything in the house out of the way -they take photos of the water boiler, electricity box and gas fire and tick the boxes to make sure everything is in order or whether it needs repair.

On the appointed day "Ellie" turned up with no ID ("I left it in the car") and despite the Council Covid protocol; no face mask. I showed her things that needed repairing I was still waiting after 4 years (ceiling in bathroom) and 7 years (broken sink etc) but she did not seem that interested though she took a photo of the sink and told me to "Keep reporting the repairs until they get done" which seemed odd as that was one reason she was supposed to be calling around for.

As she was leaving she said "Oh, I'll just check that was everything" followed by "I was talking to your neighbours in front last week and they complained about nettles in their garden". So then I realised what she had really called around about. I pointed out that I had no nettles in my garden and showed her the only corner of the garden that had bramble growing and showed her the bramble I had cut back. I pointed out that there were no nettles in my garden.

I also pointed out that the council, because of her husband, had forbidden me in writing three times from gardening within 1.5m of the wall. That got a half hidden smirk out of her. I pointed out that the council had told she and her husband and myself that someone would be in each year to maintain that part of the garden. I also pointed out that if it had not been for this my planters and tubs of plants that had to be removed by council order would still be there and bramble cut down as it appeared.

When I first moved into the property I helped the old lady who was living in that property cut back the nettles that were a well established clump. The next old lady that moved in had her daughter regularly cutting away at the nettles. The nettles are NOT on my property.

When the current tenants took over the property they cut down the buddleia tree and placed two sheds in the area where the nettles grow. I explained all of this to "Ellie" who said "okay" and was happy with the fact that I was cutting the brambles (which cannot be seen by anyone unless in my garden or looking over the fences).  "Ellie" did say that to keep the brambles in check she would check into what the council can do -the brambles were in the soil dumped here when the property was built so not something I planted or encouraged.

That was it. I waited for "Ellie" to get back to me about the repairs but nothing and when I talked to someone at the council about the re[pairs I pointed out to "Ellie" I was asked "Ellie who? That's a common name" and I told them I had no idea since she just said "Ellie" and had no ID with her. I was then told off for allowing someone saying they were from the council into my home with no ID and not following covid protocol!

Today (4th September) I received a letter from the council with the subject clearly visible in the address box as "Breach of tenancy Agreement" which could be seen as very embarrassing.  The letter was from Eleanor Howard -I assume "Ellie" since she mentioned her recent visit but there was one outright lie: "When I visited recently I recall that we did have a discussion about maintenance of the garden, and I did note that it was very overgrown" The conversation was about repairs then her 'suddenly remembering' the nettles and she was shown what I had cut back. At no point did she state that the garden was overgrown -it is not just the one bramble corner.  

I ought to point out that a couple months before the council sent a senior housing officer around with a tree surgeon to look at a poplar tree I was concerned over. There followed a discussion about the mix of trees and how I managed to grow certain shrubs and bushes (mostly flowering) and I asked "Does it look like a problem to you?" and the email I received from the Mayor's office that same day stated that it was all sorted and that no problems existed (9/11/2022)

"Dear Terry,

 

Thank you for your message of 17 February and for your patience while I replied.

 

My office referred your case to the responsible department for review and now understands that our Trees and Woodlands Manager was able to visit today to meet you and undertake an inspection of the tree. He has shared his professional assessment of the tree with my team, as with you, and I hope this provides reassurance.

Thank you once again for getting in touch.

Kind regards,

Marvin Rees

Mayor of Bristol"

In fact, even better than that, back at the start of June another council officer ("Mike") had called regarding some repairs that needed carrying out. While we were talking in the garden Mike said there were a lot of small birds coming in and out and added "It says on your file yours is a wildlife orientated garden" and that is correct as previous council officers have also told me that. I am, after all, a "renowned naturalist" and there are hedgehogs, slow worms, frogs and even the occasional grass snake and wall lizards. So, yes, tidy but aimed at wild life.

I have not complained about the new neighbours and their shouting and smashing things or their yappy young dog and noisy visitors.  

The fact that Ms Howard only identified herself as "Ellie" and did not state that she was coming here about nettles and then lies outright about discussing my "overgrown garden" is bad enough. She was being deliberately deceptive. Also no ID -breach of council regulations. No face mask (I wore mine) or "safe distancing" as the council outlines in its letters. She is also the first council officer to clearly identify WHO made a complaint.

From now on ANY council officer calling at this property will be filmed for my own legal safety since there is a long and documented history (including a written apology from former head of estate management Paul Bannerman over outright lies told by two council officers) of not telling the truth about what was discussed with me. Also, Ms Howard  notes that she spoke with me but writes: "We have received an allegation that a member of your household, lodger or visitor has been responsible for the following breach of tenancy conditions" yet she knows I am the only person here other than my sister who has had a stroke and I look after -she found all of this out in her first phone call when she asked questions re myself, my sister and various other personal details. 

Oh I am going to make sure everything is filmed from now on and forwarded to my solicitor.

Update

My email to the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, Head of Estate Management and Estate officer dated 9th September, 2023:

Hello

I am contacting the parties concerned regarding what can only be called ongoing harassment by Bristol City Council itself. I hope that you take a serious look at this situation as it has gone on for 28 years (that is not a typo).

 

A couple weeks ago I had a call from someone calling herself "Ellie" at Bristol City Council. She told me that she was in the area and wanted to carry out a "property maintenance inspection". I'd had one in 2022 but cleared everything in the house out of the way -they take photos of the water boiler, electricity box and gas fire and tick the boxes to make sure everything is in order or whether it needs repair. This would have been the third such inspection since lockdown stopped.

On the appointed day "Ellie" turned up with no ID ("I left it in the car") and despite the Council Covid protocol; no face mask but I was wearing mine. I let her into the house and showed her things that needed repairing -I was still waiting after 4 years (ceiling in bathroom) and 7 years (broken sink etc) but she did not seem that interested though she took a photo of the sink and told me to "Keep reporting the repairs until they get done" which seemed odd as that was one reason she was supposed to be calling around for.

As she was leaving she said "Oh, I'll just check my phone in case I forgot anything" followed by "oh, I was talking to your neighbour in front last week and they complained about nettles in their garden". So then I realised what she had really called around about. I pointed out that I had no nettles in my garden and showed her the only corner of the garden that had bramble growing and showed her the bramble I had cut back. I pointed out that there were no nettles in my garden by pulling back the bramble.

I also pointed out that the council, because of the neighbour’s husband, had forbidden me in writing three times from gardening within 1.5m of the wall. An area housing officer even measured the distance with a tape measure and realised that I was right and that 1.5m would include one entire side of the house. That got a half hidden smirk out of her. I pointed out that the council had told the Hancock’s and myself that someone would be in each year to maintain that part of the garden. I also pointed out that if it had not been for this my planters and tubs of plants that had to be removed by council order would still be there and bramble cut down as it grew.

Back in 1994 when I moved into 85 Risdale Road, in Ashton Vale, I did so on the council promise that the 50ft x 70ft garden that had chest high bramble that grew out into and across the street would be cut back. It was not. Instead, as I was carrying in boxes I got a phone call from the council about complaints over my garden and that I was breaching the tenancy agreement by7 not maintaining it. I explained that I was just moving in, etc and was told I still had to clear the bramble (it eventually took five months). I also got a written warning. From 1994 until I moved out of Risdale Road I received up to 2-3 warnings from the council about maintaining the garden. Every time an housing officer came out and reported back that there was no problem and the garden was being maintained. One year the number of ‘complaints’ totalled four and the same council officer visited and in 1999 told me that he was going to put on file that the garden was fine and that if there were complaints this often then they were malicious.

The warnings and ‘complaints’ -the council asked repeatedly could never produce any evidence of a complaint having been made. I moved to the current property in 2004 and since then (first week) I have received the same warnings and visits and one EVERY occasion there has been no upholding of any complaint.

Re. The property in from (195) when I first moved into the property I helped the old lady who was living in that property cut back the nettles that were a well established clump. The next old lady that moved in after that tenant had her daughter regularly cutting away at the nettles. The nettles are NOT on my property.

When the current tenants took over the property they cut down the buddleia tree and placed two sheds in the area where the nettles grow. They also tore down branches on my elder tree without asking and would not even respond when I said hello to them. I explained all of this to "Ellie" who said "okay" and was happy with the fact that I was cutting the brambles (which cannot be seen by anyone unless in my garden or looking over the fences) and I even showed her the pile of bramble I had cut back waiting to be removed.  "Ellie" did say that to keep the brambles in check she would check into what the council can do -the brambles were in the soil dumped here when the property was built so not something I planted or encouraged.

That was it. I waited for "Ellie" to get back to me about the repairs but nothing and when I talked to someone at the council about the repairs I pointed out to "Ellie" I was asked "Ellie who? That's a common name" and I told them I had no idea since she just said "Ellie" and had no ID with her. I was then told off for allowing someone saying they were from the council into my home with no ID and not following covid protocol!

Today (4th September) I received a letter from the council with the subject clearly visible in the address box as "Breach of tenancy Agreement" which could be seen as very embarrassing.  The letter was from Eleanor Howard -I assume "Ellie" since she mentioned her recent visit but there was one outright lie: "When I visited recently I recall that we did have a discussion about maintenance of the garden, and I did note that it was very overgrown" The conversation was about repairs then her 'suddenly remembering' the nettles and she was shown what I had cut back. At no point did she state that the garden was overgrown -it is not just the one bramble corner.

I ought to point out that a couple months before the council sent a senior housing officer around with a tree surgeon to look at a poplar tree I was concerned over. There followed a discussion about the mix of trees and how I managed to grow certain shrubs and bushes (mostly flowering) as well as varieties of ivy and I asked "Does it look like a problem to you?" He said it was well maintained and that my file states mine is a wildlife orientated garden. After the visit I received an email from the Mayor's office that same day stated that it was all sorted and that no problems existed (9/11/2022)

"Dear Terry,

Thank you for your message of 17 February and for your patience while I replied.

My office referred your case to the responsible department for review and now understands that our Trees and Woodlands Manager was able to visit today to meet you and undertake an inspection of the tree. He has shared his professional assessment of the tree with my team, as with you, and I hope this provides reassurance.

Thank you once again for getting in touch.

Kind regards,

Marvin Rees

Mayor of Bristol"

In fact, even better than that, back at the start of May another council officer ("Mike") had called regarding some repairs that needed carrying out. While we were talking in the garden Mike said there were a lot of small birds coming in and out and added "It says on your file yours is a wildlife orientated garden" and that is correct as previous council officers have also told me that. I am, after all, a "renowned naturalist" and there are hedgehogs, slow worms, frogs and even the occasional grass snake and wall lizards. So, yes, tidy but aimed at wild life.

I have not complained about the new neighbours and their shouting and smashing things or their yappy young dog and noisy visitors.  Drilling, screaming, shouting and loud music and drinking sessions in the garden in front of my fence so they cannot be ignored.

The fact that Ms Howard only identified herself as "Ellie" and did not state that she was coming here about nettles and then lies outright about discussing my "overgrown garden" is bad enough. She was being deliberately deceptive. Also no ID -breach of council regulations. No face mask (I wore mine) or "safe distancing" as the council outlines in its letters. She is also the first council officer to clearly identify WHO made a complaint.

From now on ANY council officer calling at this property will be filmed for my own legal safety since there is a long and documented history (including a written apology from former head of estate management Paul Bannerman over outright lies told by two council officers) of not telling the truth about what was discussed with me.

Also, Ms Howard  notes that she spoke with me but writes: "We have received an allegation that a member of your household, lodger or visitor has been responsible for the following breach of tenancy conditions" yet she knows I am the only person here other than my sister who has had a stroke and I look after -she found all of this out in her first phone call when she asked questions re myself, my sister and various other personal details.  I even showed her my shaking hands -I have also had a stroke. I pointed out to her that I garden and always maintain things but had been hit by covid in early May and almost died and was going through long covid -this on top of the fibromyalgia and diabetes. I also pointed out that I have post traumatic stress disorder and it can be sparked by stress and loud noise and can bring on long bouts of agrophobia.

To ignore all of this is either not listening or not really caring.

I have no idea why a visit under pretence of one thing was followed by a letter so inaccurate in what happened on that visit. I am 67 years old now and 28 years of this is more than enough and had the covid lockdown not occurred my solicitor was going to prepare a case over this.

From now on I will NOT speak to any council official by phone and all communication should be in writing. I am going to make sure any future visits are filmed from now on and forwarded to my solicitor. Some 28 years of harassment is enough -it is all documented on my blog going back to 2012 also if you ever want the link.

Signed

T. Hooper

I awaited the response knowing that Bristol City Council had sent out correspondence therefore would have copies. The reply I got from BCC complaints dept is concerning:

" Dear Mr Hooper

 

Your complaint about harassment from Bristol City Council and the actions of your Housing Officer

 

Thank you for your communication telling us about your complaint, received on 11 September 2023. This response is provided at Stage One of the Council's complaints procedure.

 

Prior to responding I have spoken to your Housing Officer, requested title plans for the property and looked at the documents we hold on file regarding your tenancy.

 

Firstly I apologise that you have felt the need to make an official complaint about the actions of your housing officer during the tenancy visit in July- the officer in question should have offered to retrieve her ID from her car and wear PPE when entering a property if you were wearing a mask. Officers do carry PPE with them and I have reiterated this to the officer.

 

From looking at the documents we hold on our system I can see that you have expressed dissatisfaction previously in the way officers have tried to address any reports received about your garden at 203 Ashton Drive. Condition 2.19 of the tenancy agreement states that: You must maintain your garden including any hedges and trees, a Housing Officer does have to send a standard letter and visit a property if any reports are received that shrubs in a garden might be impacting on neighbours and causing damage to shared boundaries or fencing.

 

I am not suggesting that written confirmation has not been sent but I can find no reference to the Council writing to forbid you from gardening within 1.5 metres of the wall and can find nothing to indicate that this area is separate on the title deeds and would be the responsibility of the Council to maintain on a yearly basis. We have agreed for contractors to clear parts of the garden previously as it was suggested there was some confusion as to what was your responsibility but it would be your responsibility as the tenant to maintain the garden when it was cut back to a manageable level.

 

As an officer does have to investigate any reports received I do not feel it is appropriate for you to film any interactions with Council employees but I do understand that you may well be seeking your own legal advice regarding this matter.

 

In order to try and help with the issues you have reported I have requested the outstanding repairs noted are addressed and you will be contacted separately by the Council's Repairs team about this. In addition if you feel you do need help in cutting back brambles or have not been clearing certain areas of the garden as you felt it was the Council's responsibility and you were told you could not clear it then I will ask a team within the Council to help with this and you would not be charged.

 

If you still have a copy of any documentation confirming you can not garden within 1.5 metres of the boundary wall and/or that the Council is responsible for maintaining this area of the garden if you could please forward it for my attention and I will ensure it is saved prominently against your account. If you could also please confirm if you would like me to ask the team for help.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome, you can ask to progress to the next stage of the Council's complaints procedure. You should provide clear reasons why my response has not resolved your complaint and what action you request as a resolution.

If you wish to request an escalation, please do so by contacting the Customer Relations Team - ideally within 20 working days of receipt of this letter - by emailing complaints.feedback@bristol.gov.uk

Or by post to:

Customer Relations Team (CH)

PO Box 3399

Bristol

BS1 9NE"

This is concerning since I had an apology from Paul Bannerman who was head of Estate Management in 2016 as well as having been shown copies of other correspondence by other council officials. According to this email all of those letters have not been filed and do not exist in the council file on me -just the complaints and not a single one of the notes clearing me of any complaints made.

I have explained that as far as I am concerned I will ignore future letters and any visits will be filmed.   Really, none of this surprises me when it comes to Bristol City Council.

It Starts Again

 Once more a council official called on false pretences and I am currently dealing with the City Council over this.

Since 2019 I have had SIX council surveyors state that my exterior guttering needs re-aligning as it is causing the water in the roof. Three of those surveyors called between November 2022-May 2023. No one has called to fix the guttering. 

Bathroom Ceiling

 For the record the outside guttering that floods under the roof and caused the ceiling damage in October 2019 is still not repaired despite two more surveyors and a council "!property inspection" last July (which they can find no record of). 

First photo is my attempt to stop the guttering flooding under the roof

And so it begins again

 Apparently lockdown stifled the ability of people to complain to the council ...lockdown is easing and....

Yesterday afternoon after doing some gardening the neighbour (who has a 6 ft plus concrete wall) walked up to my house and knocked on the door -no face mask or social distancing and complained about the bramble on my side of the wall. WHY would that concern her?

Apparently, she found some bramble on her side of the wall and was 'concerned' that over time it would make the sturdy wall collapse. I suggested that bramble on her side needed to be cut then as it was not in my garden (I had this same conversation with her late husband about bramble growing out from under the wall into my garden but he responded "Well cut it" -I was a lot more polite.

I pointed out the the neighbout that I had cut the bramble back each year. I also pointed out that the council, because of her husband, had forbidden me in writing three times from gardening within 1.5m of the wall. That got a half hidden smirk out of her. I pointed out that the council had told she and her husband and myself that someone would be in each year to maintain that part of the garden. I also pointed out that if it had not been for this my planters and tubs of plants that had to be removed by council order would still be there and bramble cut down as it appeared.

My neighbour has reported me to the coumncil for not gardening and for gardening. The council jigs about because the neighbours are private while I am merely a council tenant. I was told by my neighbour as she took most of the time nosing around the garden that she didn't have a big problem with it. I pointed out that it was absolutely none of her business what I did in my garden. I told her that thanks to their complaints I should not have been tidying up that side of the garden and this is where I am glad that I remained polite; she told me that the brambles had grown (d'uh!) and had not been done for some years. I responded: "Yes, it has. I cut it back last year" her response: "No, You didn't" so I therefore told her that I did not care what she thought and that I cut the bramble back each year including last and I had actually taken photos of the area in question for something else that proved this. "No." was the response.

So, the woman enters my property, does not wear a mask and no matter how much I moved she would not maintain social distancing and then tells me how she looks over the wall (there is a step inbuilt by her husband "to keep an eye on neighbours") into mine and the neighbour's in front and tells me I am a liar and despite the evidence (apparently, she pointed out, it was probably 9 years since I was told to not garden there -?!) that gardening has taken place because unchecked bramble after 9 years would have taken over the garden completely (and in fact is cominbg through two neighbours fences INTO my garden).

I therefore said to her: "Out of my hands -I cannot touch it and if you have a problem report it to the council". She said she would. Then she had to come back to ask me my house number!!!

I went indoors and typed an email to the head of Bristol City Council responsible for these things and explained all of this in detail.  This is the response:

Good morning

 

Thank you for your email to Stephen. We have asked the team to investigate and get in touch.

 

Kind regards

Ellie

 

Ellie de Abela-Borg | Director’s Assistant to:

Stephen Peacock - Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration

Ellie.de-Abela-Borg@bristol.gov.uk | 07795970396

Bristol City Council | City Hall | BS1 5TR

And so I thought I'd wait to see how fast the council got onto this. At 15:15hrs, Thursday 17th June, 2021 I got a phone call from someone saying they were from the housing department and that they had received "an anonymous report about" my garden. I asked for their name but was told "I'm from the housing department" and I pointed out that if shewas I needed her name for future reference and as on similar occasions she was unwilling to give a name so I pointed out that I would not deal with anonymous callers and put the phone down.

"Anonymous"? Oh, who could have made the complaint? I'm stumped (that was sarcasm).

Someone who has a concrete yard with a few plants in pots and are behind a 6ft high wall has absolutely no business inspecting neighbours gardens and being confrontational about them. And if they have bramble growing in their yard that is none of my business. To confront someone and breach all social distancing rules and not even wear a face mask is a trouble maker.  

I will be asking the Council to tell my neighbour that she is not to call at my property again. Also, ANY council official will need to identify themselves clearly to me in future.

this is all noted for the record.

An Update including Photos

My first update is that while the UK was in lockdown earlier this year I received two phone calls from the Council. Both about complaints re. the state of my garden.  Considering that the property is surrou8nded by 6ft high fencing and in a cul de sac I have to wonder who allegedly complained. The ladies living next door (no high fence that side) love the flower displays in my garden and especially the fact that they get a flower display in their garden via the chainlink fencing.  On each occasio0n I have stated that, legally, after more than 20 years of this "anonymous complaining" they need to provide the evidence of such complaints or I would have my solicitor take legal action in court over the matter. Usual BS responbse but as soon as I said "Oh, you realise I am recording this for legal reasons?" one put the phone down and the other simply aid that I was now aware of the complaint,

Nothing since April.

In my 15th February update I noted that it was 5 months since I reported a leaking bathroom ceiling and despite several phone calls to Repairs -very annoyed people telling me the number was "for emergencies only"- the situation is the same. No roofer has called as I was promised 5 times.

A few weeks ago I cleared out the gutterings and placed a plastic bottle (both ends cut off of courser, so that water would flow clearly past where the leak was. I repaired and sealed the ceiling and this coming week I was going to try to paint it.

Well, my repair and sealing worked like a charm and the guttering is okay. This morning I got up to find that the leak had moved around my repair -the photos are a little topo bright but this dirty water had splashed up the walls and it was a chore to clean the bath.

The problem hjjas to be the roof. Now the 'surveyor' who called round viewed the interior roof with a torch and step ladder I provided and from 10 ft (3m) was able to tell "the roof isn't damp".

I need m,y bathroom ceiling repaired and where ever the leak is in the roof. The problem has been that this year the catch-all excuse when I contact the Copuncil is "Because of Covid19..." Well **** Covid19. The ladies next door have black mould on their bathroom ceiling that the council ay canmnoty be dealt with until "things get back to normal".  Okay, I understand. I'm in the high risk category myself and shielding my sister who has liver disease. However that does not stop someone placing sheeting over the roof section in question or checking the exterior of the roof -all until "things get back to normal".

I'll let you all know how that goes...or does not.

It's 5 Months On

5 months ago that I reported water coming in through the bathroom ceiling which the Council man with no ID (apparently he was a surveyor but had no torch or even phone cam to take images on) confirmed was a leak -which he claimed was due to a cluttered external guttering pouring water on the ceiling -meaning the guttering was fixed too high and slanted UNDER the roof.

This man also confirmed the gap in the roof. I was so relieved it was just not my imagination. :-/

And he confirmed the damp/wet wall where paint had bubbled up.

What did this incompetent ass do? Nothing, He had no step ladder to get into the attic so I provided one. He had no torch. I provided one. He never even entered the loft to inspect theinternal site of the leak.  I have never known a council surveyor to not have a cell phone with camera to take images for reports. This joker had nothing -not even his council ID.

Three weeks AFTER he said plumbers would call to look at the guttering two shabbily dressed men with no idea of any kind nor step ladder to get to the guttering turned up. That is two weeks after I was told no job had been put in and I cleaned the gutterings myself.

Absolutely no record of a surveyor noting a gap in the roof and certainly nothing about a roofer needing to call to inspect it. THREE times I have talked to repairs -who did not want to talk to me as they wanted everything via the online questionaire- and told them I want to roof gap fixed and asked what happens about the damaged ceiling. NOTHING.

Today I find that not one of my calls has been recorded. Nothing about a gap in the roof or damaged ceiling.

If this were a private landlord Mayor Rees and the so called head of 'estate management' would be spouting their "shoddy private landlord" speech.

Bristol City Council IS a shoddy landlord.

Before anyone asks...

Yes, there was a council contact after my last posting!

The phone rang and a woman identified herself -NOT by name- as calling from Bristol City Council. I was ready but rather than any non-existent complaint or follow up about repairs I was asked whether "as you've experienced problems at the property" I might consider moving.  There were two properties becoming available after Christmas "Both outside Bristol". 

I asked WHICH problems she was referring to but she ignored me and described both the available properties as "very nice". I said I was NOT considering moving.  I then moved on the out-standing repairs and the gap in the roof.  "Oh that's not my department. No hole in the rooves of the two properties on offer though!"

I then asked for her name -which she did not like and avoided.  I then told her I had to be insistent that she identify herself.  I was told that if I was not interested in either property the conversation was over".  I put the phone down first 😜😜

No doubt there is 'no record' of the call, the offer of rehousing or anything else as per usual. Maybe I need to lawyer up?

Any lawyers working for free out there?

Beyond Coincidence?

I had a bad night and did not get to sleep until around 0700 hrs. I was woken by the recycling crew once more throwing my recycle bins against the gate/fence -I appear to be the only householder getting such selective special treatment.

Anyway, I went back to sleep and then the door bell rang.  When I write "rang" I mean it rang in the sense that the person doing the ringing appeared to have no idea that you did not have to repeatedly ring it until the door opens.

I was tired and my head was throbbing and my eyes were bleary. There stood two scruffy dressed individuals -one with a Bristol Council logo on his top.  "Here to clear your guttering" he told me while playing with his phone. I pointed out that a month ago I cleared the gutterings as no one had called as promised. "Done it have you? Looks chock-a-block"  I told him again I had done the guttering but like some very annoying door-to-door salesman he would not let it go.  I explained that I was NOT going to stand on a cold wet doorstep. It was done. "Mind if I make a phone call?" he asked -I pointed out he could use his phone whenever he wanted and the matter was done with. He started his talk again and I told him to "Take it up with the council" and shut the door.

I got back to bed feeling very unwell and then the phone began to ring continuously. I got up and answered the phone "Hello. I'm calling from Bristol City Council repairs" (the ones that DO NOT talk to you on the phone "unless its an emergency"). She told me "We've got two plumbers outside your house---"  at this point I interrupted her.

I explained about having had a phone call before (she sounded exactly the same as that caller) and explaining that I had already cleared the guttering and that I was offered three dates -I declined all three and was told the 'repair' would be cancelled.  I also explained that I had had a bad night been woken by the "plumbers" and then woken by her. FOUR times she asked if I wanted the guttering done as the plumber stated it was "chock-a-block". Fourth time I told her the conversation was over and she cancelled the non-existent appointment.

Here is the thing, like the council surveyor who came to look at the roof and attic and brought no ladder or torch the two plumbers were just standing there -no equipment. Walking along the lane from my house later I looked back and could not see into my under roof guttering and I am a good 3 inches taller than the plumber. From my gateway I could not see upwards and then downwards into my guttering.  From my doorstep looking up at the guttering (and I am a full 3 inches taller than the plumber was) I could not see up and over then downward into the guttering. How could he see that it was "chock-a-block" full of debris?  The answer is that he could not.

Why turn up at a house where there is an alleged guttering clearage arranged without even the most basic equipment to check guttering or do the work?

I posted about the City Council and problems and then I got messed about the very next day by the Council.  Coincidence.  A second time I posted and the Council got in touch next day with pointless messing around. Coincidence. I post yesterday and today I get the council plumbers calling about a non existent appointment. Three times is beyond coincidence.

I did, incidentally, mention to the council caller that all I was expecting was a roofer to look at the gap in my roof. No idea what I was talking about.  No interest.

Let's see what happens tomorrow!

well,,,,

Still no sign of a roofer to check the gap in the roof.

The ceiling damage from the water that came in? "As the tenant that is your responsibility"

The external guttering that is set too high and up under the roof so any flooding of guttering comes into the house? Apparently ALL guttering is fitted to a standard but only mine pours watering in under the roof.

So while Bristol City Council slaps itself on the back over its high housing standards the reality, as this blog shows, is far from that.

Those who contacted me and explained they are too afraid to complain as council officers have told them their homes might be at risk -ie they'll be evicted if they kick up a fuss- all I can say is document everything and see a solicitir to protect your rights as a tenant.  You DO have rights as a tenant!

How Odd

After yesterday's posting I got a phone call from Bristol Council repairs. They wanted to arrange for someone to clear my gutterings after 12th December.  I pointed out that someone should have been here two weeks ago so did it myself to avoid further water leaking in.

Usual 'apology' followed by "backlog" excuse.

I asked about the water damaged ceiling, wall and the gap in the roof. After 5 minutes of checking -nothing. No record.

Exactly as I predicted and this MUST indicate that Bristol Cioty Council are "doctoring" its official repairs record.